Tying mechanism for automatic balers



E. B. NoLT TYING IECHANISII FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS Nov. 7, v1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 Enea nay 29. 1944 w ma ma,

Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. NoLT TYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS v 9A Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed lay 29, 1944 Nul .0 A@

Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. NoLT A2,528,538

TYING MECHANISII FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. Nour 2,528,538

'mns mcHANIsM FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS Filed May 29, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 II-E123. i ai T Fzea Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. Nour 'muc MECHANISM Fox AUTOMATIC BALERs 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 29, 1944 Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. NoL'r TYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS 9 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed May 29, 1944 INVENTOR.

Nov. 7, 1950 E. B. NOLT 2,528,538

TYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS Filed May 29, 1944 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 ETE- E 5 :PIE- 5 E Nov. 7, 1.950 E. B. Nour 2,528,538

TYING MECHANISM Foa AUToMA'rIc BALERS' Filed may 29, 1944 9 sheets-sheet 9 Patented Nov. 7, 1950 TYING MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC BALERS Edwin B. Nolt, Ephrata., Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Sperry Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application May 29, 1944, Serial No. 537,900

14 Claims. l

My invention relates broadly to pick-up balers and more particularly to an improved and simplied construction of tying mechanism for bales delivered by pick-up balers.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved construction of tying mechanism for automatically tying bales with wire twisted to secure the bale in compressed condition for successive delivery from the pick-up baler.

Another object of my invention is to provide a construction ofimproved wire guide and twisting mechanism operative with respect to successive.

bales delivered by an automatic baler for insuring the tight binding of material in compressed bales. Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved mechanism for operating the metering wheel associated with a wire tie mechanism in a bale tying system for pick-up balers.

Other and further objects of my invention reside in the construction of mechanism for twisting the wire ends of bale ties around compressed material to be baled, as set forth more fully in the specification hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a slide elevational view of a pickup baler employing the wire tying mechanism for bales in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a slide elevational view or" a fragmentary portion of the pick-up baler employing the bale tying mechanism of my invention looking at the side opposite the side of the pick-up baler illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevational view on a larger scale of the wire guide parts of the bale tying mechanism showing the multiple tying arrangement which I provide; Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the wire guide mechanism illustrated in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6 is a transverse sec'- tional view taken substantially on line 6.--6 of Fig. 3; Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken substantiallygon line 1 1 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of one of the resilient holders for guiding the wire in the tying mechanism of my invention; Fig..9 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a transverse sectional view taken on lin'e Ill-lll of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken on line ll-l I oi' Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line l2l2 of Fig. 8; Fig. 13 is a side elevational view of one section of the wire guide device of Fig. 8; Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on line Il-M'of Fig. 8; Fig. l5 is a vertical sectional view through the wire tying '.iead taken on line` l5-I5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 16 is an elevational view of the parts constituting the wire 2 tying head with certain of the associated parts illustrated in section; Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional vieW of certain of the parts in the wire tying head with coacting parts illustrated in elevation view taken on line 2li-20 of Fig. 18; Fig. 21 is'a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of the mechanism which coordinates the mechanism for moving the compressed bales with the wire tying mechanism of Figs. 3-20; Fig. 22 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 22-22 of Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 23--23 of Fig. 21; Fig. 24 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on line 24-24 of Fig. 2l; Fig. 25 is a fragmentary top plan view of the delivery end of the pick-up baler showing the arrangement of the bale tying mechanism with respect to the hydraulic means for compressing the bale during the bale tying operation; Fig. 26 is a detailed view showing a fragmentary end portion of the needle employed in the bale tying mechanism of my invention, parts being broken away to show the wire guide means in the yoked end of the needle; Fig-27 is a side elevational view of the fragmentary end of the needle illustrated in Fig. 26 with parts thereof shown in longitudinal section on line 21-21 of Fig. 26; Fig. 28 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 28-28 of Fig. 26; Fig. 29 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 29-29 of Fig. 26 and looking in the direction of the end vof the needle; Fig. 30 is a side elevational view .of the wire guide means associated-with the tying mechanism and illustrating the securing means for the wire ends preparatory toa tying operation; Fig. 31 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken on line`3l-3I of Fig. 30 and showing the wire guide members in plan; Fig. 32 is a transverse sectional view through one of the wire guide members taken on line 32-32 of Fig.A

30 and illustrating the wire securing means in section; Fig. 33 is an enlarged front elevational view of the wire cutting mechanism with certain o1.' the parts broken away and illustrated in section; Fig. 34 is a side elevational view of the wire cutting mechanism illustrated in Fig. 33 with certain of the parts broken away and shown in section; Fig. 35 is a schematic view illustrating the initial arrangement of the parts of the tying mechanism preparatory to a wire tying operation;

Figs. 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 and 43 show successive steps in the bale tying operation.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character I designates the chassis structure of the pick-up baler which is supported in balanced i relation on the transverse axis 2 of the wheeled support 3. The baler includes at one end the pivotally mounted frame structure indicated generally at 4 which constitutes the pick-up or gatherer portion of the mechanism as explained more fully in my co-pending application Serial No. 525,787 led March 9, 1944, for Hay Gathering f and Feeding Mechanism for Hay -Balers, now Patent 2,507,540, issued May 16, 1950. 'Ihe pick-up or gatherer is normally supported by the Wheeled angularly movable arms 22 while plate 34 bears support represented at 5 suitably counterbalanced by springs represented at 6 and capable of beingv moved to an elevated position when it is desired to move the baler/to the eld. The pick-up mechanism is illustrated as including pick-up or gathering members 1 mounted on rotary carrier 8 for delivering the hay to the hay conveyor mechanism in trough structure 9 byv which the hay is delivered to the 'receiving chamber indicated generally at |0 as located in front of the ram o1: plunger I. Theram or plunger I I reciprocate'sin the receiving chamber |0 lwithin the confines of1walls I2 for forcing the hay into compactingi'relation in -the baling chamber. The plunger I'I is reciprocated under control of hydraulic operating mechanism shown generally at I6 and explained more fully in my co-pending application Serial No. 533,415 led April 29, 1944, now Patent No. 2,396,- 720, issued March 19, 1946, entitled Hydraulically Controlled Baler. The movement of the plunger |I is coordinated with the movement of the wad journaled on support I9 and controlled through the crank and operating arm 20. The control of the wad board is timed' with the movement of the plunger I I and with the mechanism for compressing the bale in bale tying position adjacent the l rear of the baler as represented generally at 2|.

The several moving mechanisms are all controlled by the hydraulic system I6.

The bale compressing mechanism for securing the compacted bales delivered from the baling chamber while performing thetying operation comprises pairs of arms indicated-at 22 and 23;

which are pivotally mounted at 22a and 23a on the frame or chassis of the baler at 24 and 25. The arms 22 and 23 are thus free to be moved transversely of the chassis as represented more as represented at 29a and 30a, which project horizontally of the frame of the baler through sets of guide lugs projecting upwardly and downwardly from the rear end of the frame of the baler. Opposite ends of rod members 29 and 30 project beyond the sets of guide members and are secured at their ends-29h and 30h to the vertically extending angular strip 33 which bears directly against the pivotally mounted longitudinal extending arms 22.

The two horizontally extending rod members 29 and 30 serve as carriers for the movable plate '34' which bears directly against the angularly movable arms 23 on one face and is attached centrally to a connecting rod which leads to a piston which n j board I'I operated through lel ler mechanismv I8 y against arms 23. The conjoint action is such as to shift arms 22 and 23 inwardly for securing the bale which I have indicated in dotted lines at 38 in Figs. 35-43 while the bale is in bale tying position. The bale that is clamped by arms 22 and 23 serves as the confining header against which the hay for the succeeding bale which is forming in the hay baling chamber I0 is compacted by plunger II.

Pipe line Il extends from the hydraulic system I8 as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 1. Suitable supports extend from the chassis of the baler for mounting the pressure conveying pipe line 4| in position longitudinally of the chassis of the baler in a protective position for insuring against breakage of the pipe lin'e. In Fig. 1 I have schematilcally illustrated pipe line 4I in order to clearly show the coordination between the hydraulic bale clamping means and the hydraulic system, but it will be understood that in actual practice pipe line 4| is confined directly-against the chassis of the baler.

' The successive bales are formed one against another and successively tied and discharged from the end of the baler. The details of the hydraulic mechanism for controlling the forward and reverse strokes of the plunger areV set forth at length in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,396,720, and

will not be repeated herein except to point out that the advancement of the bales through the baler progresses as plunger accumulates and successively packs quantities of hay into the baling chamber.

, The metering wheel 98 is gradually rotated by the gradually accumulated material in the baling chamber. The shaft 91 to which the metering wheel 98 is keyed carries at onev end a trip member or cam shaped device 99. When the desired length of bale is reached the metering Wheel 98 has turned so that the trip cream 99 engages the roller member |00 carried by rod member I 0I. The rod member 0| is connected throughlink |0|a tothe over center mechanism |03 and pulls one of the lever members I03a of the over center mechanism |03 until over center spring |06 goes over center. Overcenter spring |06 puts pressure on lever |03b of the over center mechanism |03. A lug |07 welded on rod |08 which is connected to lever |03b rests on slide |09. The plunger at end of the reverse stroke pulls slide |09 back until lug |07 on rod |08 drops past slide |09 due to downward pressure of spring |06 on rod |08. At the same time that lug llpasses the end of slide |09, lever |03b pulls rod I0|b which in turn compresses spring |0|c. Spring I0|c puts a horizontal pressure on dog |02 that is operated by shaft I|2, journaled vertically with respect to the side wall I2 of the baler, and which projects through` slot I02a in the wall I2 of the baler into the path of plunger |I. When plunger passes dog |02 moving toward the baling chamber, the dog |02 moves' in behind the plunger due to the force of spring |0|c. When rod |08 moves down it carries with it lever |I5 journaled at IIB which in turn operates lever ||1 on the opposite side of the baler which holds theplunger II in its extreme forward position as set forth in Patent No 2,396,720 on the Hydraulic Controlled Baler supra.

When dog 02 moves into a position in the path of the plunger II, shaft ||2 to which it is connected turns and moves crank -arm II2a which moves lever II2b. When lever Il2b moves it releases dog |61 thus engaging clutch |49. Clutch |49 operates a crank |491: which in turn operates connnecting rod |50. Connecting rod |50 is connected to gear rack |68. When rack |68 moves forward it engages gear |69 which is keyed to shaft |10. To shaft are keyed two cranks |1I and |12. To the ends of these cranks there are fastened connecting rods |13 and |14 which connect to yoke |15 which carries wire holders |16 and |11.

The yoke |15 is pivoted at |151 and |15b to the side wall I2 of the baler and swings around the wire guides 2II and 2|2. 'I'he wire guides 2II and 2|2 carrywire holders adjacent the juncture of slots 2|3 and 2I4 with the support- "ing frame-of the baler at I2 on the wire entry side of the tying mechanism. The wire holders shown more clearly in Figs. 30-32 comprise plates 265 and 266 secured to the adjacent wire guides 2I| and 2I2 on one of the co-acting pairs of wire guide members and extending toward the other of the coacting pairs of wire guide members. The plates 265 and 266 are serrated or notched on their edges as indicated at 26541 and 266a directed away from the direction of pull of the wire during the period that the wire is being laid in the wire tyer. Coacting spring strips 261 and 268 are supported on the frame i2 of the baler and project across the notched edges 265a and 266a, serving as a securing means for the endof the baling wire 253 when it is laid in the wire tyer on the first sweep of yoke |15 (see Fis. 36).

When rack |68 moves forward the yoke |15 is swung in an arc through the system of cranks and rods as hereinbefore explained. The yoke |15 carries the wire holders |16 and |11 which places the wire inthe twister |10. When yoke |15 swings to forward position the needles |22 move through the baling chamber Il and carry with them the free end of the baling wire. As yoke |15 reaches forward position the needles |22 pass through slots |22a in baling chamber I0 carrying with them the free end of the baling wire. When yoke 15 starts to swing in reverse direction the wire holders |16 and |11 pick the free end of the wire ofi' the neemes |22 and carry it back placing it in twister |18.

When the yoke .|15 swings in the forward direction the clutch-|49 makes V4 turn. The yoke |15 swings back in the reverse direction in the next 1A turn of the clutch |49 leaving shaft |10 in its original position. When clutch |48 starts the second half of its revolution it moves rack |68 back 'causing it to mesh with pinion |19 which is keyed to shaft m joumnled'wun rei spect to the side wall I2 of the baler. Keyed to the other end of shaft is a. miter gear-IBI. From miter gear 8| is driven shaft |02 through miter gear I82a which Operates twister |18. The twister |18 operates while clutch |49 is going from 180-270 of its turn. When the clutch goes from 270360 of its turn it just pulls the rack |68l back and turn the twister. |13 back empty.

Starting again with the start of clutch |49, during the first quarter turn of crank |49a it draws rack |68 forward. The front end of rack |68 moves lever |83 ahead. Lever |83 is connected to rod |84, which in. turn is connected to crank |85 journaled at |86. The crank |85 connects to rod |81 which in turn connects to crank |88. Crank |88 -is fastened to shaft |89. When lever |83 is moved ahead-as hereinbefore explained it turns shaft |89 through the system of levers and cranks as explained. To shaft |89 are fastened two levers |90 and |9I on opposite sides of the wire twister |18 which make contact with the wire ejectors. The levers |90 and I9| move the wire electors back making it possible for wire to enter the twister |18.

When clutch I4'9 nears the end of 270 of travel the two lugs |92 and |93 carried on the head |94, driven by connecting rod I 50, .strike limit nuts and |96 on rods |91 and |98. The rod |91 is connected to lever |85 and from there to the wire ejectors as hereinbefore explained. Now when the lug |92 on head |94 makes contact with limit nut |95 on rod |91 and moves rod |91 back which in turn is connected to parts |80, |81, |88, |89, |90 and I9I, this moves the wire ejectors out thus shoving the nshed twisted wire out of twister |18. Also, at same time as this occurs, lug .I 93 on head |94 makes contact with limit nut |96 on rod |98 and'moves rod |98 back thus moving lever |99 to which it connects. Lever |99 pivots about point 200 on the brace 20| supported on the side wall I2 of the baler. The top of lever |99 is pivotally connected to bar 202 at 203 which is in turn fastened 'to rod I 0I at point 204. Now as the lower end of lever |99 is 'pulled back by rod |98 the upper end moves forward and this pulls the end of lev'er |0311 of over center |03, through link I0 Ia, up throwing spring |06 overcenter in the original position. When spring I06'goes over center it pulls lever I03b up which in turn lifts rod |08 and rod |98 pflls levers II5 and I|1 to their original position, operating rod |I8 leading to the hydraulic control mechanism for controlling the reciprocative stroke of the plunger II.

The operating mechanism as heretofore described and particularly shown in Figs. 21-24hss the effect of imparting rotary movement to shaft |82 and oscillating movement to shaft |80. The conjoint action of these two shafts operates the wire twister |18 as will be more cl^arly Understood by reference to Figs. 3-20. 'I'he wire twister |18 comprises a housing formed by the casting 205 which projects from the Wall I2 of the baler and side wall coacting closure 2Il| forming a housing in which the wire twister members 201 and 208 are journaled and within which intermes'hed gears 209 and 2I0 operate. It will be seen that the wire twister members 201 and 298 each contains a radially extending slot 23111 and 208a adapted to be in line and registered with the coacting slots 201i) and 20817 in the body structure 205 of the wire twister and with the sets of wire guide members 2II and 2|2 which extend along substantially semi-circular paths along;r the wire twister. The sets of wire grides 2II and 2|2 are each provided with an intermediate slot 2|3 and 2 I4 through which the wire is introduced preparatory to the twisting operation. The rotary movement is imparted to '-"ire twister members 201 and 208 through gears 209 and 2|0 driven from shaft |82 upon which gear 209 is keyed. It will be observedthat gear 2|0 is loose upon shaft |89 so that shaft |39 is free to oscillate through the concentrically disposed gear 2|0 althoughgear 2I0 is driven by gear 208 7 to impart movement towire twister member 208. The shaft |89 which extends through the wire twister |18 and oscillates therein vcarries the levers |90 and |9| each of which is slotted as represented, for example, at |90a and` |9|a` to engage pins |9012 and |9|b which project on opposite sides of the wire ejector member vrepre-- sented at 2|5. The wire'ejector member 2|5 is free to reciprocate through the body structure of the wire twister. AWire ejector member 2|5 con-A tains cam faces 2 |,5a and 2 I 5b for sliding the wire out of the coacting slots of the wire twister members at 201a and 208a and free of the coacting slots 201b and 2081) in the body structure1205 from which the twisted wires are free to move over the ends of the body structure 205 and 205a and 205b where the twisted wire passes through the slots r2|6 and 2|1 to directly embrace the side of the compacted bale. Before the twisted Wires are releasedthrough the slots 2|6 and 2|1 the free ends of the twisted connection thereof are cut by means of the cutting device represented generally at 2|8.

Figs. 33-and 34 show more clearly thevcam member 229 connected to shaft |82. When shaft |82 is' going from 2702-360" of its turn cam mem- 'ber 22s strikes cam rouer 23u on disc 223 which isvpivotally mounted at 224, thus imparting angular movement to disc 223 for effecting ejection of the cutting knives 22| and 222 during the lest V4 turnof twister drive gear269.

The cutting device 2 I8 comprises a pair of anvil members 2|9 and 220 each ofwhich` is slotted to receive the end of one of the wires constituting the twisted pair immediately adjacent the end of the twisted connection. The slotted anvils 2I9 and 220 within which the wire extends are each provided with faces through which reciprocative cutting knives 22| 'and' 222 are adapted to be projected. The projecting vmechanism consists of an angularly shiftable disc 223 pivotally mounted at 224 and forming a pivotal connection for link members 225 and 226 which extend to pivotal connections with thev cutting knives 22| and 222 respectively. The disc 223 is noimally biased by spring member 221, extending between a fixed point on the wire twister mechanism and the end of lever 228, to a position in which the cutting knives 22| and 222 are retracted from the slotted anvils 2|9 and 220.'

Cam 229 is directly connected to shaft |82 which carries main twister drive gear 209. When shaft |82 turns it also turns cam 229 which strikes the cam roller 230 on `disc 223 during the -last one-quarter turn of twister drive gear 299 and thus the wire is cut before the twist is completely nished. The oscillating levers |90 and |9| control the movement of l the wire ejectors 2|5. Thecam 229 performs its operation and the cutting knives 22| and222 are ejected and complete their function before the oscillating levers |90 and |9| operate. The wire is cut before the ejectors operate.

The wire for binding the lbales is carried on reels represented at 23| and 232 in Fig. 1 depending from the chassis of the baler.l The reels are journaled on bracket members mounted on'the frame of the baler in such arrangement that they may be readily renewed or replaced from time to time as vnecessary. Tubular mem- -bers 233 and 234 are supported on the chassis of the baler for directing each wire to the posiv8 Y 1 nates at a position 233a in alignment with the lower needle |22 while the tubular member 234 terminates at 234a substantially in alignment with the upper needle |22. The wires pass over yguide rollers representedy at 235 and 236 for engagement by rollers |221; and |22c carried in the bifurcated extremities in the yoked ends |22d ofA the needles |22. The needles |22 are supported by the yoke 231 pivoted at the top and bottom of the frame of the chassis as represented at 230 and 239. The yoke 231 is shifted angularly for controlling the movement of needles |22 underl control of the adjustable links 240-connected to arms 24| driven by shaft |10.

As the shaftl |10 revolves, arms 24| move adjustable links 240 to swing yoke 231 througha path which results in the successive transverse represented at 242 and 243-having their headed ends riveted in an end vplate 244. The end plate 244 is substantially ovalin shape with wire guide lto tion at which the wire is effectively supplied to projections 245 and 246 thereon asshown. Projection 246 extendsfrom the end of plate 244 and is directed upwardly for vengaging the wire and by its inclined cam face 246a guiding the wire into the wire holder. Each ofthe bolts 242 and 243 has enlarged Shanks 242a and 24311 immediately below the riveted connections ofthe bolts with the plate 244- and'forming suppressor members between the guide plate 244 and the supporting member |15c. lThe Shanks 242a and 243a are each provided with annular grooves 242b and 24311 which extendsubstantially more than the around the peripheries of the shanks and serve as wire gripping means in coaction with the spring pressed plate member shown at 241. The spring pressed plate member 241 is shaped as shown in Figs. 8 and 9 to substantially conform with the shape of the upper plate 244 but having an upwardly directed end portion 241a and a downwardly directed end portion 241b serving as wire guide means in coaction with the shaped upper plate 244. The plate 241 is recessed at spaced'intervals and receives ball membersj240 which are retained... therein and serve as wire confining means incoaction with the associated grooves 242b andy 243b in the bolt members 242 and 243. Plate 241 is normally urged by coil springs 249 and 250 into a yieldable coacting vbetween plates 244 l'and 241, as the plate 241 tends to yieldably float on springs 249 and 250, I provide a pin member 25| which is co-extensive with projection 245 `on plate 244 and tends to slide in a semi-circular peripheral notch 252 formed in the adjustable plate 241. Thus canting or angular tipping with possible subsequent wedging of the floating plate 241 is substantially 9 precluded. I have explained the wire holders at length so that their ability to grip and pull the wire, when it is looped around the grooved posts 242a and 243a while being free to slide through the wire holder, will be more fully understood when considering the procedural steps in eilecting the tying of a bale as depicted in Figs. l35-43.

In Fig. 35 I have illustrated the bale in perspective and have rotated the parts 90 out oi normal position in order to make clear the position of the wires whenV the bale is-being formed. It will be seen that both the upper and lower tying wires are initially secured in the wire holders |16 and |11 respectively on the yoke and the wires drawn through the chamber in which the bale is being formed and around the bale represented at 38 by the swinging movement of yoke |15. At this stage in the cycle needles |22 are wholly outside of the frame of the baler as shown in Fig. 35. In the description of the views which follow I have described the tying operation with one set of the wires, but it will be understood that a second tie with another set of wires is performed simultaneously in a spaced position on the bale.

The next succeeding step is illustrated in Fig. 36 wherein the needles |22 are moved half way through the transverse slot in the head of the plunger and in the space shown at I0. 'I'he yoke |15 has moved in timed relation half way through its angular path with the Wires gripped in the wire holders |16 and |11. This is the start of the tying process as it will be seen thatv the free ends of the wires designated at 253 have been started to be laid in the wire twister |18 as shown.

In Fig. 37 I.have shown the wire carrier or yoke |15 moved all the way front and the needles |22 have moved through the transverse slot in the head of the plunger ready for the wire carrier to pick the wire off the needles on the return stroke. The free end of the wire 253 has now been fully laid in the wire twister |18 as shown in Fig. 37 having become free of the wire holder |16. The wire holders |15 and 4|11 are moved into the path of the wires supplied from reels 23| and 232 and after being freed of the free end of the wire 25| picks up the looped portion of the wire at 254 removing the wire from the needles |22 so that when `the .yoke 15 reverses its direction of movement in the succeeding cycle illustrated in Fig. 38 the looped portion of the wire 254 is laid in the wire twister |18 as illustrated in Fig. 38.

Fig. 38 illustrates the condition where the wires engaged in the wire holders |18 and |11 may slip through' the holders as the loop of wire at 25| is being advanced for laying the wire in the wire twister |18 as represented at 255 ready for the twisting operation.

Fig. 39 illustrates the position of the mechanism at the commencement of the wire twisting operation.

In Fig. 40 I have shown the ends of the wire at 253 and 255 twisted in the wire twister |18 and the end of the wire 255, after twisting, cut or severed by the cutter represented at 22| in Fig. i7 leaving the free end of the wire at 258 carried in the wire holder |15. It will be observed that the twisted loop of wire is now in the form of a band entirely encircling the bale 38 lwhich is confined and compressed under very substantial pressure. This in eiect binds the wire twister |18 t0 the bale.

However, as represented in Fig. 40 the twisted ends of the wire in the wire twister |18 are now ready for ejection from the wire twister. Such ejection is accomplished by the operation of the ejector means 2|5 which pushes the twisted wire 253-255 out from the wire twister |18.

As shown in Fig. 41 the twisted wire 253-255 springs over the top of the ejector 2|5 (Fig. 16) and passes vthrough slot 2|6 to a position directly against the compressed bale 38.

The compressed bale as soon as it is delivered from the baler is free to expand and resume such a size as will ll the area within the wire bond.

In Fig. 42 I have shown the position of the parts at the start ofthe binding operation on the succeeding bale as bale 38 is pushed out of the baler.

, As bale 38 is ejected from the baler in the direction of arrow 251 the succeeding bale being formed at 258 is packed against the head formed by bale 38. The looped wiresecured in the wire holder |16 is pulled back, as represented at 259, over the twister |18 as the material accumulates in the baling chamber for forming bale 258.

Fig. 43 shows the wire at 259 completely pulled over the twister |18 and wrapped around pin 268 projecting from extension |15c on yoke |15 so far as the upper wire is concerned and around a corresponding pin indicated at 26| on extension |15c adjacent the lower wire holder |11 (Fig. 3). 'I'he wires are held in this position until yoke |15 with the wire carriers |16 and |11 thereon supporting the free ends of the wires starts forward again to tie another bale through the succession of events in the cycle which repeats in the order of Figs. 35 through 43 inclusive.

Thus successive bales are automatically tied in repeating cycles timed in relation to the operation of the twister. One of the important features to be carried in mind in understanding the operation of the tying mechanism is the complete rotation of control shaft |82 as distinguished from the oscillatory movement of control shaft |89 whereby twisting of the ends of the wire may be eil'ected` and the twisted wire ejected in proper timed relation to the severing ci.A the free end of the wire by knife members 22|-222 operating in coordination with anvils 2|! and 220. Throughout the description of the successive steps outlined in Figs. 35-43 Ihave shown but one of the tying wires in position on the baler, but it will be understood that both tying wires are applied in similar manner at upper and lower zones of the baler. l

I have described my invention in one of its preferred embodiments but I realize thatchanges in the arrangement ofparts may be made and modiilcations effected and I desire no limitations imposed upon my invention other than those vset forth in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

l. A bale tying mechanism comprising a pair of wire supply reels, an angular swingable yoke having wire holders disposed thereon at spaced intervals, wire twisting mechanism having a pair of twister members disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a set of wire guide means aligned with each of the wire twisters, said yoke being swingable in a forward direction for laying the free ends cf the wires secure in the said wire holders carried thereby in each of the wire twisters, the said wire holders operating to release the free ends of the wires substantially at the end of the forward stroke thereof, needle mechanism for 11 wrapping the wires around a bale and delivering loops thereon to a position adjacent said yoke substantially at the end of the forward stroke thereof for engagement by the wire holders carwires carried by said wire holders, means disposed between s aid wire twisters for simultaneously actuating said means for severing the looped ends of the wire carried by said wire holders. and coacting means for simultaneously electing the twisted wires from said wire twisters for encircling the formed bale.

2. Av wirevtyingV mechanism for bales comprising a frame structure and comprising a housing, a pair of coacting gears mounted in said housing. a wire twister disposedvadjacent each of the opposite ends of said housing, each wire twister having a slotted recess in one side thereof and having gear teeth engaged with the aforesaid coacting gears, said housing being formed with slots in registration with the slotted portions of said wire'twisters when the latter are at rest, a wire ejector slidably mounted with respect to said housing, means for introducing opposite ends of wire to be twisted through the slots in said housing and into the slotted portions of said wire twisters, a shaft member for rotatably driving one of said gears for twisting the ends of the wires introduced into said wire twisters, and an oscillating shaft extending through the other of said gears and interconnected with said wire ejector and operating in timed relation to said other shaft whereby the twisted wire ends are ejected from. said wire .twisters upon completion of the twisting operation therein.

v3. Wire holding means for bale tying mechanism comprising a support, a plate. member having an upwardly projecting wire guide adjacent one end thereof, a pair of supporting members connected with said plate member and said support, said supporting members having transverse grooves therein immediately below said plate member, a oating plate carried by said supporting members, and yieldable means for maintaining said floating plate in close proximity to the under surface of said plate member 4. Wire holding means for bale tying mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having an upwardly projecting wire guide adjacent one endthereof, a `pair of supporting members connected with said plate member and said support, said supporting members having transverse grooves therein immediately below said plate member, a iioating plate carried by said supporting members, yieldable means for maintaining said floating plate in close proximity to the under surface of said plate member, and wire engaging means carried by said iioating plate and directed toward said plate member. y

L 5. Wire holding means for bale tying mechanism comprising a support, a plate member having an upwardly projecting wire guider adjacent one end thereof, a pair of supporting members extending .from said support and connected with said plate member, wire engaging means on said supporting members, a floating plate yieldably mounted on said supporting members and movableinvariable spatial relation to the Aentire surface of said plate member, resilient means for ing with thawire engaging means on said supi porting members. l

6. Wire holding means for baie tyingl mecha l ism comprising a support, a plate member having an upwardly projecting wire guide adjacent one endl thereof, a pair lof supporting members extending from said support and connected with said plate member, wire engaging means on said` supporting members, a floating plate yieldably mounted on said supporting members and movablein variable spatial relation to the entire surface of said plate member, resilient means for supporting said floating plate, wire engaging means carried by said oating plate and coacting with the wire engaging meanson said supporting members, and meansl extending between said plate member and said floating plate for maintaining substantial parallelism between said floating plate and the under surface of said plate member in the course of the yieldable movement of said iioating plate.

7. A bale tying mechanism comprising a pair oi' wire supply reels, an angular swingable yoke having wire holders disposed thereon at spaced intervals, wire twisting .mechanism having a pair of twister members disposed at spaced intervals thereon, a pair of wire guide means substantially surrounding the wire receiving side of each of the wire twisters, said yoke being swingable in a forward direction in -a curved path substantially conforming with the -contour of said wire guide means for laying the free ends of the wires secured in the said wire holders carried by the yoke in each of the Wire twisters, the said wire holders operating `to release the free ends of the wires substantially at the end of the forward stroke of said yoke, needle mechanism for wrapping the wires around the bale and deliveringA loops thereof to a position adjacent said yoke substantially at the end of the forward stroke thereof for engagement. by the wire holders carried by said yoke, said yoke being swingable in a return stroke for introducing the wires carried by the wire holders into said wire twisters in a direction opposite to the directionin which said free ends of the wires were introduced into the wire twisters, means located between said wire twisters for severing the looped ends of the wires carried by said wire holders, and coacting means for ejecting Vthe twisted wires from said wire twisters for encircling 4the formed bale.

8. A wire tying mechanism for bales comprising a frame structure and comprising a housing, a pail-of coacting gears mounted in said housing, a wire twister disposed adjacent each of the opposite ends of said housing, each wire twister having a slotted recess in 'one side thereof and having gear teeth engaged with the aforesaid coacting gears,l said housing being formed with slots in registration with the slotted portions of said wire twisters when the latter are at rest, a substantially E shaped wire ejector slidably mounted with respect to said housing, means for introducing. opposite ends of wire to be twisted through the slots in said housing and into the slotted portions of said wire twisters, a shaft member for rotatably driving one of said gears for twisting theends of the wires introduced into said wire twisters and an oscillating shaft extending through the other of said gears and interconnected with said substantially E shaped wire ejector and operating in timed relaannesse tion to said other shaft whereby the twisted wire ends are ejected from said wire twisters upon completion of the twisting operation therein, and means for directing the twisted wire to a position encircling the bale.

9. Bale tying mechanism comprising in combination a chamber for accumulating material to be baled, means for compressing baled material, means for encircling wire around the baled material, a wire twister adjacentv one side of the chamber, said chamber being slotted longitudinally of the side. adjacent the wire twister, said wire twister operating to receive and twist the wire encircling the baled material, a cam mechanism driven in timed relation to said wire twister, a reciprocating knife actuated by said cam mechanism in a path normal to the path of movement of the wire through theA wire twister and operating to sever the supply end of the wire, and means for ejecting the twisted wire whereby the wire is freed for passage through the slotted side of the chamber for encircling the baled material, the compressed bale being free to expand within .the limits of the encircling twisted wire.

10. Bale tying mechanism comprising means .for successively packing material to be baled into compressed relation constituting separate.

bales, a movable needle operating in timed relation to the forming of the bales and movable in a path transverse to the axis of the bales for encircling the formed bales with loops of securing wire, a wire twister adjacent one sidel of a formed bale, means operating in timed relation to the movement of the bale for introducing one end of the looped wire into one end of the wire twister, a bifurcated end portion onsaid -needle for directing another portion of the wire into said last mentioned means for introducing the last mentioned lportion of the wire into said wire twister, means for twisting the wire to form a twisted bond encircling the formed bale, a rotatably driven cam operating in timed relation tothe twisting operation, a knife reciprocative across the path of the supply end of the wire extending from said wire twister, means operated by said cam for thrusting said knife across the path of the supply end of the wire for severing the looped portion of the wire remote from the twisted portion thereof, and means for ejecting the twisted bond for encircling the formed bale.

11. Wire tying mechanism for bales comprising, a wire guide disposed adjacent' one side `,of a formed bale, wire twisting mechanism disposed adjacent said wire guide, a yoke member pivoted to swing in a path adjacent said wire guide, a wire holder carried by said yoke member in alignment with said wire guide, said wire holder including means for gripping and pull-- ing a wire for delivery to said wire twisting mechanism, said mechanism including a rotatably driven cam, slottedanvil for the passage of a tying wire, a reciprocative knife operative in timed relation with the advancement of a bale, needle mechanism for encircling the bale with wire and introducing the ends thereof into said wire holder for delivery to the wire twisting mechanism for effecting the bale tying operation, and means for advancing the formed bale and moving said yoke member in timed relation thereto.

, 14 12. Bale tying mechanism comprising in combination with means for advancing a compressed bale along a horizontal guide, a pair of control shafts, gear means operated in timed relation to the advancement of the bale for imparting rotary movement*I to one of said control shafts and oscillatory movement to the other of said control shafts, wire supply means for supplying wire to said bale tying mechanism, a wire twister operated by the rotary movement of the first of said control shafts, means for introducing a wire encircling thevformed bale into said wire twister, a wire ejector operated by the oscillatory movement of the other of said control shafts, and wire cutting means operated in timed relation to the first of 'said shafts for severing the wire from said wire supply means.

13. Bale tying mechanism comprising in combination with means for advancing a com pressed bale along a horizontal guide, a pair of control shafts, gear means operated in timed relation to the advancement of the bale for im.

parting rotary movement to one of said control shafts and oscillatory movement to the other of said control shafts, a Wire twister operated by the rotary movement of the first of said shafts, means operating in synchronism with the advancement of the bale for encircling the bale with wire and introducing the ends thereof into said wire twister for effecting the bale tying operation, a wire ejector operated by the oscillatory movement of the other of said control shafts, and wire severing means operating in timed relation to the operation of the first of said shafts.

14. Bale tying mechanism comprising in combination with means for forming a bale, a gear operated system, needle mechanism operating transverselyy of the means for forming the bale for encircling the bale with wire, a wire holder means for introducing opposite ends of the wire into said wire twister, a wire ejector, a pair of control shafts, means for rotatably driving one of said control shafts for operating said wire twister, means for imparting oscillatory movement to the other of said control shafts for operating said wire ejector, a wire cutter actuated by the first mentioned control shaft for severing the supply end of the wire from the twisted wire after a wire twisting operation, and means for synchronizing the operation of. said needle mechanism and all of the aforesaid means with the rate of advancement of the formed bale.

EDWIN B. NOLT.

REFERENCES CITED' The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

4 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 

